Mechanism for transferring and timing sheets



4|. l L :angegangenBergmann-ganga.unnaugfmu..

May l, 1923.

A B. F. UPHAM ET AL MECHANISM Foa TRANSFERRING AND TIMING SHEETS May 1,- 1923.. -B. F. UPHM ET AL MEcHANisM Fon TRASFRRING AND TIMING SHEETS 2 Smets-sheet 2 Original Filed June 2l. 1920 Patented May 1, 1923.

UNITED. STATES miriamv oFFicE.

BUBTFROST UPHAM, OF BBOOKLINE, EBANK B. BELLUCHE,.0F MANSFIE'LD, i

A KURT F. HORNIG, OF AMESBUBY, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOBS TO UNITED PRINTING MACHINERY COMPANY, F BOSTON,

TION' 0F MASSACHUSETTS.

ysiianssa'oiairsnTTs, A conrona- MECHANISM FOB TBANSFERRING AND TIMING SHEETS.

Application led June 21, 1920,` Serial'No. 390,500.` Renewed Iuly 16,1921. Serial'No. 485,401.

To all 'whom it may concern.' Be it known that we, BURT F.YU1 HA11 1, of Brookline, county of Norfolk, Mass.; FRANK R. BELLUCHE, of Mansfield, county of Bris- -tol, Mass.; and KURT F. HoRNro, of'Amesbury, county of Essex, Mass., all citizens of the United States, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mechanism for Transferring and Timing Sheets; and we I0 hereby declare that'the following is a full,

clear, and exact description thereof, refer` ence being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

This invention is a novel mechanism vfor l5 transferring sheets of paper froma machine,

can be taken from one machine and properly presented to the other machine regardless of small variations, or lack of exact synchro- 'nism, in the time required forA a cycle of operations by the respective machines.

A great deal of difficulty has been heretofore experienced inprinting and bronzing sheets of paper by successive continuous operations, for the reason that it is difficult to operate the two machines in exact synchronism and consequently the sheets printed by the press are not always properly presented to the bronzing machine thus .necessitating readjustment and .causing delay and inconvenience in the operation of the machines.

By the present invention we have provided sheet transferring and timing means whereby such difficulties as have been heretofore caused by slight variations in time of operation of the printing press and bronzing machine. or failure of exact synchronism of operation, will not affect the proper tra-nsfer of the sheets from the press to the bronzing machine, nor the proper presentation of such sheets tothe bronzing machine after they are transferred from the printing press.

We will explain one practical embodiment and application of the invention (as adapted to transfer sheets from a printing press to a. bronzing machine) with reference to the `accompanying drawings to enable others In said drawings, Fig."1 is a diagramf matical longitudinal sectional elevation of a( printing press, of a bronzing machine, andI of our novel mechanism for transferring sheets from the press to the bronzer.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail top plan view of part ofthe sheet transferring devices.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail sectionala view on the line 3 3, Fig. 2.

f Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail view illustrating the operation of the traveling sheet stops. s s

Fig. 5 is a detail plan view of Fig. 4.

In Fig. 1 we have indicated a rotary sheet printing press having a plate cylinder P and a'n impression cylinder I. The printing press may ber of any desired construction, or an other suitable mechanism may be employe' The invention is more particularly intended for use in connection with rotary presses.

In the type of press shown the sheets are received from a ltable T and after being printed are taken from the Uimpression cylinder I b the grippers e on endless carriers E, whic carriers run horizontally from a reel R beside the vimpression cylinder to and under guide rollers R', then up 'over guide rollers R2; then preferably in a horizontal direction lto'and over guide rollers R?,

then back to and overguide rollers R4; then down under guidev rollers R5; and thence.,

back to the reel R ;'thus thegrippers e'travel .in an endless circuit.

the

lThe grippers e ordinarily transfer printed sheets S from vthe impression cylinf der I to and over a vsheet delivery table inthe usualA manner; but in the present instance instead of the delivery table the sheets are delivered from the carriers E ontcltlief upper run of a set of horizontally dispo.

endless tapes D; which tapes nm over guide,

supported are journaled in suitable bearings (not shown) attached to the press frame or other convenient support, in a plane below and parallel with the run of the carriers E between the rollers R2 and R3.

The tapes D transfer the sheets onto tapes F (Fig. 2) which run over guide pulleys fy on shaft l", and over guide pulleys f on a shaft l, which is journaled in suitable supports at the receiving end of the machine that next operates on the sheet which is indicated in Fig. l as a bronzing machine.

The bronz-ng,machine may be of any suitable construction. As shown it has a bronzing cylinder 1V, provided with grippers w, adapted to take sheets at the proper point and carry them past the usual bronzing devices, and then surrender them to a delivery reel V by which they are transferred into position to be discharged by a ily U onto a receiving table X as indicated in the drawing. The particular make or mechanisms of the printing press and bronzing machine form no part of this invention. The types indicated are well known; and other .well known printing and bronzing machines mayy be used.

At the outer side of the series of tapes F and parallel therewith are endless belts A which are mounted on pulleys a, a', on shafts 1b and lc respectively. The pulleys a, a are preferably toothed or sprocket pulleys and belts A are preferably sprocket belts, or perforated to engage such sprocket pulleys, so that said pulleys and belts drive the shaft lb from the shaft 1.

The sheets are delivered by the tapes F onto endless tapes G which run over pulleys g on the shaft 1c, and over guide pulleys g', adjacent the cylinder l/V. The tapes' Cr present the sheets to the grippers 10 of the bronzing cylinder W.

The tapes D, F, and G, and belts A should be driven at a lineal speed twice as fast as the peripheral speed of the bronzing cylinder W; and cylinder lV is preferably1 driven at a peripheral speed slightly faster than the peripheral speed of the impression cylinder I, and lineal speed of the carriers E.

The shaft l is preferably driven from the bronzing machine by any suitable gearing which will cause the belts A, and tapes F, G, and D to travel at about twice the peripheral speed of the bronzing cylinder 1V, as above stated.

Parallel with and above the shafts l", 1c, are shafts le, 1f, which may be journaled in suitable supports (not shown) on the press and bronzing machine frames. Shaft 1f is preferably geared to the shaft 1c by gears l, 1, as indicated in the drawings.'

Extendin between the shafts le, 1t and v y pulleys b, b' thereon are a series of endless tapes B. The tapes B are preferably mounted on pulleys b fast on the shaft lf and ulleys b loose on the shaft le, so that tapes are driven from shaft 1t at the same speed as belts A and F.

Arranged between and parallel with certain of the tapes B are endless belts C, which preferably are sprocket'belts and` run over sprockets c fast on shaft 1e and over sprocket pulleys c loose on shaft l'.

'l`he gear lh is preferably a double Width gear and meshes with gear ll and also with a gear 2h on a shaft 2- journaled in bearings l on the bronzing machine. 0n shaft 2a is mounted a series of pulleys h carrying tapes H, which also run over pulleys la. on a shaft 2 adjacentcylinder VV.(Fig. l). Shaft 2 is provided with a ear 2d meshing with a gear w on cylinder andthe gearing being preferably such as will' cause the belts H to travel at a lineal speed equal to the. peripheral speed of the bronzing cylinder W.

Arranged beside and parallel with tapes H are belts H2 which are preferably sprocket belts and run over sprocket pulleys fast on shaft 2, 2a,- and said sprocket belts and pulleys cause gear 2h to drive shaft 1c at a speed sufficient to cause the belts Aand tapes F, G, B, and D, to travel at twice the peripheral speed of the bronzing cylinder W.- Any other suitable means for driving belts H at the speed of the bronzing cylinder may be used.

The shaft le may be driven by means of gears l, l, from a gear 1j on the shaft ln of the guide pulleys R3; or by any other suitable means, so that the belts C will be driven at the same lineal speed as the belt E (or peripheral speed of the impression cylinder I).

To the belts C are attached suitable sheetstops (such as"3) which are adapted when on the lower run of the belt to project into the path of a sheet l ing upon the faster running tapes F (see igs. 1, 8 and 4) and prevent the tapes F advancing such sheet beyond such sheetI stops, which travel at the same speed as the carriers E (i. e`. at the peripheral speed of the printing cylinders I, P). These sheet stops however are moved out of the way of the sheet before it reaches the shaft lf, so as to permit the sheet to pass from tapes F onto tapes G which rapidly advance the sheet toward the cylinder W; but as the sheets are thus advanced by tapes G they are brought up againstthe moving sheet stops H attached to the belt H2, which stops travel at exactly the same speed as the periphery of the bronzing cylinder lV and will ensure that the .forward edge of the sheet is in position to be taken by the grippers w on the bronzing cylinder W at the proper time.

As shown each sheet stop on belt C consists of a finger 3 pivoted at 3a on a cast-ing 3" fastened to the belt C and projecting a little to one side thereof (Figs. 3, 4 and 5) perpendicular to the belt so that the 'finger 3 lies at one side of the belt. The finger 3 has a cam portion 3d at its base projecting beyond the pivot, and said cam portion has a The finger also as a stop portion 3, which is adapted to engage the pin 3f to arrest the finger in a position perpendicular to belt C (see Fig. 4).

To belts A are attached trips 3x which at the proper time come into contact with the fingers 3 (as shown in full lines in Fig. 4) but owing to the differences in. the relative speeds of the belts A and C trip 3x engage and rock the fingers 3 until the spring pressed bolt 3 engages the cam portion 3d whereupon the spring 3j causes cam3i to rock the fingers 3 into the position indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 4, out of the way of the sheet S, which then can pass onto the 80 tapes G, until it is arrested by the stop H.

peratz'on.

Preferably there are two sets of sheet stops 3 on belts C, and these belts are of such length and the stops so positioned thereon that one or the other set of stops 3 will always be in position to arrest the forward edge of a sheet S as it is advanced by the tapes D, F, and prevent the same im- 40 properly passing between the tapes G and H. There are also preferably two sets of stops H on the belts Ilz, and one of the stops will always come into position to arrest the leading edge of a sheet S between the shaft 1c and pulleys gf. so that notwithstanding the fact that the sheet is advanced so much more rapidly by the tapes D, F, G, than by the carriers E. and (notwithstanding the fact that the cylinder W is rotated slightly faster than the printing cylinders P. I.) the sheets will always be properly .presented to tlie cylinder W.

In practice the peripheral speed of the cylinder W is preferably slightly faster than the peripheral Speed ofthe printing say onek inch per revolution on the yprinting cylinders. it will ultimately gain a coinplete revolution on the printing cvlinder; and assuming that the bronzing cylinder is -50 inches in circumference. foreach 50 revoiia lutionsv of the ybroiizin'g cylinder tlie printpart 3, which isY 5 adapted to enga' e the rperiphery of the pul ing cylinder' would only make 49 revolutions. Therefore `we provide the sheet stops 3 and H' and the belts A, C, and H2 so that when operated as described they will automatically take careof the leading edges of the series of sheets successivelyy delivered from the printing cylinders and insure that 49 sheets will :successively be presented to the bronzing cylinder in proper position, but on the 50th revolution the bronzing c 7linder would not receive a sheet because t 1ere would be none presented thereto at the proper time, but on the next revolution of the bronzing c linder a sheet would be properly presente thereto and the cycle of 49 operations repeated. For each cycle of operations the stops 3 would arrest the sheets at successively further distances from the tapes G until say the sheet following the 49thwould be arrested at such a distance fromtapes G as will permit the c linder W to make one idle revolution before such sheet reaches it. Of course these figures are merely illustrative and not accurate.

What we claim is:-

1. In mechanism o f the character specified, a first means for operating upon sheets a second means for operating upon sheets; and sheet transferring means receiving sheets from the first means for operating upon sheets 4and moving them toward the second means for operating upon sheets; said transferring means moving at approximately twice the speed of the second means for operating upon sheets, and means adapted to retard the movement of the sheets by the transferring means. y v

l Y. In mechanism as set forth in claim `1; a sheet carrying means operating at approximately the speed of the sheet transferring means and receiving sheets therefrom; and means ada ted to retard the movement of the sheets Iby said sheet carr ing means to substantially accord with'tlie speed of the second means for operating upon sheets.

3. In combination Witha first anda second means for operating upon sheets; sheet transferringmeans comprising endless tapes receiving sheets from the vfirst means for operating on sheets and moving them toward vthe second means for operating upon sheets;

said endless tapes being driven at approximately twice the speed of the second means for operating upon sheets; and means adapted to retard the movement of the sheets upon.

the said tapes to substantially accord with the speed of said second-means for operating upon sheets.

4. In mechanism as set forth in claim 3, a sheet carrying means operating at approximately the speed of the sheet transferring means and receiving sheets therefrom; and

means adapted to retard the movement `of the sheets by said sheet carrying means to substantially accord with the speed ofthe second means for operating upon sheets.

5. In mechanismof the character specified a first means for operating upon sheets; and means lfor delivering sheets therefrom 5- a` second means for operating upon sheets, and means for feeding sheets thereto; .with sheet transferring mechanism receivlng 'sheets from the said delivery'- means and moving them toward the said feeding means; said transferring means operatlng at approximately twice the speed of the second sheet operating means; and means adapted to retard the movement of the sheets upon the transferring means. l

6. In mechanism as set forth in claim 5; the sheet carrying meansfor feeding sheets to the second means for operating upon sheets operating at approximately the speed of the sheet transferring means and receiving sheets therefrom: and means cooperating with said sheet carrying means to limit the movement of the sheets thereon to substantially accord With the speed of the second means for operating upon sheets.

7. In combination with a first and a second means for operating upon sheets;

, sheet transferring mechanism comprising endless tapes receiving sheets from the first means for operating on sheets, and moving them toward the second means for operating upon sheets; said endless tapes being driven at approximately twice the speed of the second means for operating upon sheets; and traveling means moving at the speed of. the first means for operating upon sheets and adapted to retard the movement of the sheets upon the tapes to substantially accord with the speed of said second means for operating upon sheets.

8. In mechanism as set forth in claim 7, a. sheet-carrying-means for feeding sheets to the second means for operating upon sheets.v said carrying means operating at approximately the. speed of the sheet transferring means and receiving sheets therefroni; and means coopera-ting with said sheet carrying means and limiting the movement of the' sheets thereon to substantially accord 'with the speed of the second means for operating upon sheets.

9. In mechanism of the character specii fied` a first means for operating upon sheets;

and a second means for operating upon the sheets: with means for transferring sheets from the first means for operating upon sheets toward the second'means for operating upon sheets, said transferring means including endless tapes traveling at approximately twice the speed of the second means for operating uponsheets; and endless belts' carrvine` means adapted to retard the movement of the sheets upon the said tapes.

10. In mechanism as set forth in claim 9; a second setof endless tapes operating at approximately twice the speed of the second means for operating upon sheets, and re- -ceiving sheets from the first set of endless tapes; and traveling means cooperating with said second. set of tapes to retard the movement of sheets thereby to substantially the speed of the second means for operating upon sheets.

11. In mechanism of the character specified, a first means for operating upon sheets and a second means for operating upon sheets; with means for'transferring sheets from the first means forl operating upon sheets toward the second means for operating upon sheets; said transferring means including endless tapes traveling at approximately twice the speed of the second means for operating upon sheets; and traveling endless belts moving at the speed of the first mea'ns for operating upon sheets, and stops carried by said belts adapted to retard the movement of the sheets upon the said tapes, substantially as described..

`12. In mechanism as set forth in claim 11; a second set of endless tapes operating at approximately twice the speed of the second means for operating upon sheets and receiving sheets from the first set of sheet transferring tapes; and traveling sheetstops cooperating with said second set of tapes to limit the movement of the sheets thereon to substantially the speedof the second means for operating upon sheets.

13. In mechanism of the character specified, a first means for operating upon sheets; an endless carrier for delivering sheets therefrom; and a second means for operating upon the sheets; with sheet transferring means comprising endless tapes receiving sheets from thedelivery of the first means for operating upon sheets; said endless tapes traveling at approximately twice the speed of the second mea-ns for operat-ing upon sheets; endless belts arranged above` the fast moving tapes and moving at the speed of the first means for operating upon sheets, and stops carried by said belts adapted to retard the movement of the sheets upon the said tapes` substantially as described.

14. In mechanism as set forth in claim 13, a second set of endless tapes operating at approximately twice the speed of the second lofi means for'operating upon sheets and receivv lao 17. In combination with a printin press and a bronzing machine, sheet trans erring means comprising endless ta; s receiving sheets from-the press and de ivering them toward the bronzing machine; said endless tapes being driven at approximately twice the speed of the bronzing machine; and means adapted to retard the movement of the sheets upon the said tapes to substantially accord with the speed of said bronzing machine.

n 18. In lmechanism as set forth in claim 17, a sheet carrying means operating at approximately the speed of the sheet transfer ring means and receiving sheets therefrom, and means adapted to retard the movement of the sheets by said sheet carrying means to accord with the speed of the bronzing machine.

19. In mechanism of the character specified, a rotary printing press for operating upon sheets, and a bronzing machine for operating upon the sheets; with means for transferring sheets from the press toward the bronzin machine; said transferring means inclu ing endless tapes traveling at approximately twice the speed of the bronzing machine; and traveling'means adapted to retard the movement of the sheets upon the said tapes.

20. In mechanism as set fortli in claim 19; a second set of endless tapes operating at approximately twice the speed of the bronzing machine and receiving sheets from the first set of endless tapes; and traveling means cooperating with said second set of tapes to retard the movement of sheets thereby tol substantially the speed of the bronzing machine.

21. In mechanism of the character specied, a sheet printing press, means for delivering sheets therefrom; a bronzing machine and means for feeding sheets thereto; with means for transferring sheets from the said delivering means toward the said feeding means; said transferring means including endless tapes traveling at approximately twice the speed. of the bronzing machine;- and traveling endless belts moving at substantially the speed of the press and stops carried by said belts adapted to retard the movement of the sheets lpon the saidtapes, substantially as describe 22. In mechanism as set-forth in claim 21; the means for feeding sheets to the bronzing machine comprising a second set of endless tapes operating at approximately twice the speed of the bronzing machine and receiving sheetssfrom the sheet transferring tapes; and traveling sheet stops cooperating with said second set of tapes to limit the movement of the sheets thereon to the speed of the bronzing machine.

23. In mechanism of the character specified, a sheet printin press; an endless carrier for delivering s eets therefrom; and a bronzing machine for operating upon the sheets; with sheet transferring means comprising endless tapes receiving sheets from the said carrier; said endless tapes traveling at approximately twice the speed of the bronzing machine; endless belts arranged above the fast moving tapes and moving ut the speed of the first means for operating upon sheets, and stops carried by said belts adaptedl to retard the movement of the sheets uion the said tapes, substantially as describe A 24; In mechanism as set forth in claim 23,

a second set of endless tapes o erating at.

the sheets thereon to the speed of the bronzing machine.

25. In mechanism of the character specified, an endless belt, a pulley over which the `second set of tapes to limit the movement of belt passes, a member attached to said belt,

and a stop fingerpivoted on said member having a portion adapted to engage the surface of the pull/ey and throw the finger into operative position; and means for returning the linger to inoperative position.

26. In mechanism as set forth in claim 25; an endless belt parallel with the first belt and moving at a greater speed, and devices on said latter belt adapted to engage the finger and return it to inoperative position.

27. In' mechanism as set forth in claim 25; a spring actuated detent carried by said member adapted to hold the finger both in its operative position and in its inoperative position.

28. In mechanism as set forth in claim 26; a spring actuated detent carried by the member adapted to hold the finger in its operative position and in its inoperative position.

29. In mechanism of the character specified, a first means for operating upon sheets; a second means for operating uponsheets; means receiving sheets from the first means for operating upon sheets andv transferring them toward the second means for operating upon sheets; and means adapted to retard the movement of the sheets 'by the transferrin means. r

30. n mechanism as set forth in claim 29;

a sheet carrying means receiving sheets from' sheets; yand means adapted to retard the movement of the sheets by the transferring means.

32., In mechanism as set forth in claim 3l, a sheet carrying means receiving sheets from the sheet transferring means and delivering them to the second means for operating upon sheets at substantially the speed of 'said second means for operating upon sheets.

33. In mechanism of the character specified, a first means for operating upon sheets; a second means for operating upon sheets; and sheet transferring means receiving sheets from the first means for operating upon sheets and transferring them toward the second means for operating upon i sheets; said transferring means moving at greater speed than the second means for operating upon sheets, and means for retarding the movement of the sheets by the, transferring means. 34:. In mechanism as set forth in claim 33; a sheet carryingl means operating at approximately' the speed of the sheet transferring means and receiving sheets therefrom; and means adapted to retard the movement of'the sheets by said sheet carrying means to substantially accord with the speed of the second means for operating upon sheets.

In combination with a first and a second means for operating upon sheets; sheet transferring means comprising endless tapes receiving sheets from the first means for operating on sheets and delivering them to the second means for operating upon sheets; said end'ess tapes being driven faster than the speed of the second means for operating upon Sheets; andmeans adapted to retard the movement of the sheets u on the said tapes to substantially accord Wlth the speed of said second means for operating upon sheets.

3G. In mechanism as set forth in claim 35, a second set of endless sheet carrying tapes operating at approximately the speed of the first set of sheet transferring tapes 38. In mechanism as set forth in claim 5,

the sheet retarding means operatin to slow down the speed of movement of tie sheets by the transferring means'to accord with the speed of the second means for operat-in upon sheets before the sheets are delivered to said second means.

39. In mechanism as set forth in claim 9; the sheet retarding means operating to slow down the speed of movement of the sheets by the transferring means to accord with the speed of the second means for operatinn upon sheets before the sheets are delivered to said second means.

40. In mechanism as set forth in claim 19; the sheet retarding means operating to slOw down the speed of lmovement of the sheets by the transferring means to accord with the speed of the secondLmeans for operating upon sheets before the sheets are delivered to said second means.

41. In mechanism as set forth in claim 29; the sheet retarding means operating to slow down the speed of movement of the sheets by the transferring means to accord with the speed of the second means for operating upon sheets before the sheets are delivered to said second means.

42. In mechanism as set forth in claim 31, the sheet retarding means operating to slow down the speed of movement of the sheets by the transferring means to accord with the speed of the second means for operating upon sheets before the sheets are delivered to said second means.

43. In mechanism as set forth in claim 33; the sheet retarding means operating to slow down the speed of movement of the sheets by the transferring means to substantial accord with the speed of the second means for operating' upon sheets before the sheets are delivered to said second means.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our own, we aiiix our signatures.

BURTFR-OST UPH'AM. FRANK R. BELLUCHE. KURT F. HORNIG. 

